Archive for April, 2012

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It’s That Time of the Year to Celebrate Volunteers!

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Happy National Volunteer Week! Yesterday started the kickoff for the week. How will you celebrate the power of volunteerism? If you stick with HandsOn Network and our friends, you won’t be disappointed this week!

President Barack Obama officially the week of April 15-21 to be National Volunteer Week April 9th. National Volunteer Week is a week long celebration of volunteer recognition and the power of service. It is the perfect time for beginner volunteers to start giving back, families to come together through volunteering, and organizations to recognize their volunteers and partners.

How can you celebrate this week with HandsOn Network, Points of Light, generationOn, and AmeriCorps Alums? The list below will make it easy for you to get involved!

  1. Learning time: Our partners have many volunteer learning resources happening this week. GenerationOn is hosting a free webinar on April 18 “With Honor! May Moments of Service.” This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about service projects or organizations and individuals who work with youth to participate, as well. AmeriCorps Alums will be hosting a webinar on “Resume Assistance” April 17. This webinar is a great tool for adding volunteer experience to your career resume. You can also find many webinar resources on our website! Register for the above webinars by clicking on the webinar titles.
  2. Reward volunteer hours: Cabot Creamery Cooperative, All for Good, Create the Good, and Points of Light have teamed together to make volunteer hours count for even more. Thanks to the “Reward Volunteers” mobile Smartphone application you can get prizes just for sharing your volunteer hours.
  3. Volunteer with our friends: HandsOn Network has over 250 action centers who are all hosting volunteer projects across the nation. Whether you are interested in the environment or you just want to play with some cute animals we know you will not have a problem finding something to do.
  4. Recognize volunteerism: There are so many ways that you can tell your volunteers “Thank-you” this week. From a simple thank-you card to a volunteer parade just show them that you care.
  5. Tell us what you do: your story of volunteerism with Points of Light this week. By sharing your story, you could have a chance to win one of five cruise tickets to Alaska for you and a guest thanks to Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
  6. Girl power: Do you know a woman who is making a big difference in the community through the power of volunteerism? Nominate her for the 2012 L’Oreal Paris USA’s Women of Worth contest. Your nomination could help her win money for her nonprofit!
  7. Feed the hungry: Join generationOn and No Kid Hungry as they team up for the Great American Bake Sale. All you have to do is register your bake sale and donate your profits to Share Our Strength who will put your donations toward the fight against hunger.
  8. Visit the Extra Mile Pathway: Want to be inspired by great acts of service? Visit the Points of Light Extra Mile Pathway, if you will be in the Washington DC area. There is a great bunch of dedicated volunteer stories just waiting to inspire you along the way.
  9. Join Clifford: Know someone who is making an impact this week and beyond? Whether they are young or old nominate them for Scholastic’s BE BIG Challenge today!

National Volunteer Week is going to be awesome! We hope that you will get out and celebrate people in action.

Got questions? Let us know in the comments section below, after all we are a fun bunch so don’t be scared to ask!

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Posted in Events, Family Volunteering, Mobilize, Volunteer Recognition, Volunteerism | 3 Comments »

3 Ways to Fight Friday the 13th Jitters!

Friday, April 13th, 2012

If you are spooked by Friday the 13th, don’t be! This week’s unlucky day is the second of three for 2012. And it would come as no surprise if many among us hold at least some fear of freaky Friday, as we humans tend to be pretty superstitious.

Many superstitions stem from the same human trait that causes us to believe in monsters and ghosts: When our brains can’t explain something, we make stuff up. In fact, a 2010 study found that superstitions can sometimes work, because believing in something can actually improve performance on a task; however, we’ve devised a plan to fight those superstitions by volunteering!

  1. Volunteer around black cats: Superstition states that a black cat crossing ones path is a sign of bad luck despite the many people who have good luck and own them or work around them. Defy superstition by volunteering at an animal shelter on September 13. Many shelters usually have at least a few black cats that are ready for adoption, which means there’s a good chance at least one will cross your path at some point while you’re volunteering! Hopefully you’ll see how awesome they are and will adopt one! Check out our friends at  Best Friends Animal Society for a shelter near you!
  2. Go out the same door you came in: Supposedly it’s bad luck to go out the same door you came in, so if you’re someone who believes this superstition, think of all the people who go in and out of the same door every day. On September 13, rather than go in one door and go out another, use the same one in order to defy superstition.
  3. Clean up your local lake: In the original Friday the 13th (1980), Mrs. Voorhees stalks and murders the teenagers who are preparing Camp Crystal Lake. To fend off any fictitious murderers and silly superstitions, gather your family and volunteer to clean up your local lake or park on this beautiful Friday afternoon!

We hope these three activities will help you ward off any Friday the 13th superstitions. Comment and tell us what volunteer activities you’ll be doing in honor of Friday the 13th!

 

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Posted in Family Volunteering, Just for Fun, Kids | No Comments »

I Give Time Because …

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Why do you volunteer? That’s the question we all want the answer to, as it varies so much from person to person. We collect stories, read studies, and browse charts & infographics in pursuit of the common theme. We love volunteers and never tire of hearing the inspiration behind the time and effort they give to the causes and organizations they are passionate about.

So why do you give your time?

I give time to your cause because it makes me feel generous.

…because I was asked.

…because I want to show support for a friend who is involved.

…because you asked me to, and it’s hard to say no to you.

…because I want to be recognized.

…because I want to keep busy.

…because I feel guilty.

…because I don’t want to seem apathetic.

…because it’s my duty.

…because you make me feel needed.

…because I have a personal connection or stake in the challenge you focus on and the solution your organization is working for.

…because its good for my health & perspective.

…because you inspire me.

…because I identify with your story.

…because my spouse volunteers with you or sits on your board of directors.

…because I want the t-shirt (mug, calendar, raffle prize).

…because I was in a giving mood.

…because it’s my job.

…because it’s an escape from my job.

…because it looks good on my resume.

…because it’s fun.

…because I want to pay the benefit I got from your organization forward.

…because your organization’s professional staff are so nice to me.

…because you’re changing the world somehow and I want you to keep on making changes.

…because volunteering makes me feel cool.

…because volunteering makes me feel happy.

…because volunteering makes me feel hopeful.

…because volunteering makes me feel part of a community.

 Why do you volunteer? Let us know in the comments below!

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Posted in Volunteer Reflection, Volunteerism | 3 Comments »

“Play ball!” 3 Ways to be an Awesome Baseball Volunteer!

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

April symbolizes many things-spring, Easter, Passover, and most importantly baseball! That’s right, this month major league baseball kicks off its 2012 regular season.  Baseball is a chance to enjoy the awesome weather that the spring and summer offer, but it’s also a time to enjoy some friendly competition; However, while baseball is one of many American’s favorite past time, it is also a unique opportunity to volunteer! While you may be wandering how volunteering and baseball are linked, surprise, surprise! We have already figured that out for you!

Here are 3 ways you can be an amazing baseball volunteer!

 

  1. Put your strength to work! Baseball players are great athletes so why not use your strength to help someone? One day after practice or on an off day-volunteer! With the recent tornadoes and storms, you can gather your team and go help clean up communities that have succumbed to the recent disasters. Recently, a Harriburg, PA high school baseball team volunteered to clean up their communities. The team was in the area for a high school baseball showcase at Rent One Park in Marion and decided to stay and spend a portion of their spring break assisting victims of last month’s tornado. How cool is that? Of course, everyone hasn’t recently suffered a natural disaster, but I’m sure there are other ways for you and your team to volunteer in your communities!
  2. Host a baseball camp!  Organize a baseball camp for the youth in the community to promote sportsmanship, fitness, and camaraderie and end the camp with a baseball game! You can also get your community leaders involved in the event by asking them to teach a session or mentor a youth during the camp! Events like the baseball camp really motivate students to work harder at sports and school and can play an especially important role for young people coming from difficult backgrounds or family situations. Sports can also help teach students responsibility, accountability, teamwork, a work ethic, and many other positive qualities including self-pride.
  3. Become a little league volunteer! Whether you’re coaching a team, carpooling to ensure that another teammate gets to practice, or providing refreshments, you are vital to the team! As a parent volunteer, you have the opportunity to spend quality time with your child in a safe, fun-filled environment. Oftentimes, parent and child social lives parallel each other. Volunteering allows your life and your child’s life to intersect on common ground, with shared interests and goals. Similarly, if you are not a parent, volunteering to coach a baseball team allows you to mentor or provide leadership to a child. As a volunteer, you can teach intangible skills that will stick with the child for their entire lives.

There are so many fun and awesome ways to become a baseball volunteer, and if you’re already a baseball volunteer, GREAT! Keep up the good work and thank you!

 

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Posted in Family Volunteering, Just for Fun, Kids | 2 Comments »

Simple Acts Make a World of Difference

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

April is a day to get involved in raising awareness. Why? Today is TOMS Shoes’ One Day Without Shoes. One Day Without Shoes is a time dedicated to raising awareness about world health issues that arise when one does not have access to a pair of shoes. Many children around the world go without due to economic factors. Children who do not have shoes to wear daily are more prone to diseases such as Hookworm and they are more prone to infection form injuries.

One Day Without Shoes is a great example of “slacktivism.” What is “slacktivisim?” Slacktivism is a way to give back to the community without directly doing acts of service. It is a way to not only make a difference for a beloved cause, but it is also a way to make someone feel good about him or herself due to a simple act of good.

Interested? Below is a list of other forms of slacktivism that you can participate in year round!

  • Use your money for good: Choose brands that support causes or sustainable practices. TOMS is a great example, whether you are buying their shoes or eyewear your purchase will go to a good cause. Other examples of brands that are making a difference are Warby Parker and Patagonia.
  • Tweet, tweet: Use Hashtags to support your favorite causes. Many organizations and brands will designate certain hashtags to be used for their campaigns. You can not only show your support, but also network with people who share your passion.
  • Clicking for good: Show your support by liking your favorite brands and organizations on Facebook or other social media channels. It will help you stay up to date on the latest news and happenings occurring at the organization.
  • Donations: Many organizations or brands will donate proceeds to a cause through clicks. If your organization is doing this make sure you click to help out!
  • Donate your status: Donate your Facebook status or profile picture to a cause. It will help your friends and followers understand your passions and will help get the organization’s mission and message out!
  • Wear a ribbon: Do you support a cause that is represented by a certain color? Wear a ribbon showing your support. When others ask you about it you can tell them to help show support for the cause.
  • Watch a documentary: Interested in a cause, but you do not know much about it? Check out a documentary that informs. Invite your friends or family to watch it with you to get the discussion going!

We hope these ideas get you out there to show your support for your favorite causes and organizations! Whatever you are interested in, find a way to get the word out around your community.

How are you showing support for your favorite cause? Share with us in the comment section below, we would love to hear about it!

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Posted in Service, Social Media, Tools You Can Use | No Comments »

Volunteers, You’re Awesome Take a Bow

Monday, April 9th, 2012

We absolutely love volunteers! Not just because we are a nonprofit organization focused on volunteer listings and opportunities, but also because they are just plain awesome! Why?

Volunteers dedicate themselves to a cause or an issue in the community because they care and want to give back. They do not act for monetary rewards or even recognition. They volunteer their in many different ways from book drives to park clean up just to give back to their neighbors.

April is National Volunteer Month, so let’s celebrate the hard work volunteers are doing around the world by recognizing their efforts!

  • In 2012, 62.7 million people volunteered in America.
  • Thanks to those 62.7 million volunteers, 8.1 billion hours of service were logged for the United States. Imagine what the nation would look like without those 8.1 billion hours!
  • 26.5% of United States residents reported that they volunteered in some form over the past year in 2010. Those 26.5 percenters individually contributed 34.1 service hours in their communities.
  • The Independent Sector reports that those 8.1 billion hours of service were worth $178 billion in 2010. Each volunteer is worth $21.67 per hour, but they do the work for their love of the community, rather than salary.
  • 23.5% of volunteers are actively involved in food collection and distribution. How many residents would go hungry without these volunteers?
  • 26.7% of volunteers for education. How would our children succeed in school without the help of education volunteers?
  • 11.6 million Millennials volunteered 1.2 billion hours of community service to their community in the categories of fundraising, labor, mentoring, and food distribution. Do you still believe that young people cannot make a difference?
  • 9.2 million older Americans (65 years and older) donated 1.7 billion hours of hours to their communities. Older adults are able to find new meaning to their lives after retirement thanks to volunteer work.
  • Volunteers with HandsOn Network affiliates impacted the service economy by $546,638,278!

Are you still skeptical about the value of volunteer work? We hope not. Recognize the work being done in your community via volunteers. National Volunteer Week is just around the corner, April 15-21. Do something special for your volunteers! Whether you want to alert the media about your volunteer events and impact or you want to write personal thank you notes for your volunteers, make this a week of recognition for the unbelievable service work happening every day!

 

The statistics used in this report can be found in the 2010 Volunteering in America report conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

This infographic can be found via the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Posted in Impact, Service, Volunteer Recognition, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

Hop, Hop The Easter Bunny Has Arrived

Friday, April 6th, 2012

The Easter Bunny is hopping through a town near you this weekend! How can you turn this day into more than just a day full of family, pastel eggs, and honey glazed ham? Turn your family’s Easter celebration into a project about social good!

While we all love to sit around with our family members to dye eggs and search the lawn for the golden egg, it can be a great time to teach your children about the power of service and volunteering through making it a day of charity. Try one of these Easter-themed service projects in your community this weekend; we guarantee it will only enhance the fun!

  • Easter bunny time:
    • Here comes our favorite bunny: Contact your local children or family shelter to see if they have an Easter bunny coming to visit. If they do not, volunteer to dress up for the kids so that they can share in the fun!
    • Breakfast with Peter Cottontail: Get together with your neighbors to plan a community breakfast with the neighborhood kids. It is a great time to meet your neighbors and have fun with the kids in your community. You can even plan a special Easter Bunny visit at the Breakfast.
    • Do the bunny hop: Plan an Easter theme dance in your town hall. Everyone is required to wear bunny ears at the event in honor of the Easter Bunny. Charge an admission price and donate your proceeds to your community’s favorite charity!
  • Where is the last Easter egg?
    • Community hunt: Organize a community Easter egg hunt with your other community members. All those who want to be involved can donate one bag of candy to be used in the hunt. Participants are encouraged to donate  a toy during the event for a child in need.
    • Egg hunt name call: Contact your local shelter or hospital about your egg hunt. Ask them for a list of children’s names who are asking for toy donations. Put a child’s name in each egg. Families can donate a toy to the name of the child whose egg they find.
    • Hold an Easter egg decoration competition: Are you skilled in the craft of egg dying? Decorate eggs for charity! Participants choose their favorite charity, and the winner gets all proceeds from the event donated to his or her charity.
  • Easter dress fashion show:
    • We all know, there is some pretty tacky Easter wear out there. Hold a tacky Easter dress fashion show! Donate all proceeds to charity.
  • It’s time for the parade:
    • Hold an Easter Day parade filled with all things Easter themed! It is a great way to get your community to volunteer together and it will be a fun way to start the day!

 

Whether you are celebrating Easter this weekend or just spending time together with your friends and family, the weather is perfect to get out and be active in your community! We hope that these tips will help your share the power of social kid with your community and family. Happy Easter!

How are you celebrating the power of service this weekend? Share with us in the comments section below, we would love to hear your stories!

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Posted in Events, Family Volunteering, Fundraising & Development, Kids | No Comments »

Helping Others Makes Us Happy

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Volunteering and helping our fellow man has long been seen as an altruistic thing to do. But more selfish motives–pleasing friends, doing what you want–are more successful causes of effective volunteering! Regardless of motive, volunteering improves the health, happiness, and in some cases, the longevity of volunteers. Children who volunteer are more likely to grow up to be adults who volunteer. Even unwilling children who are forced to volunteer fare better than kids who don’t volunteer. Communities with lots of volunteers are more stable and better places to live, which in turn further boosts volunteerism.

“On one hand, it’s striking that volunteering even occurs,” says Mark Snyder, a psychologist and head of the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society at the University of Minnesota. “It seems to run against the strong dynamics of self-interest. There is simply nothing in society that says that someone is mandated to help anyone else.” Yet 1 in 3 adults do meaningful volunteer work on a sustained basis, he notes, and the United States has one of the world’s highest rates of volunteerism.

“People who volunteer tend to have higher self-esteem, psychological well-being, and happiness,” Snyder says. “All of these things go up as their feelings of social connectedness goes up, which in reality, it does. It also improves their health and even their longevity.”

Among teenagers, even at-risk children, who volunteer reap big benefits, according to research findings studied by Jane Allyn Piliavin, a retired University of Wisconsin sociologist. She cites a positive effect on grades, self-concept, and attitudes toward education. Volunteering also led to reduced drug use and huge declines in dropout rates and teen pregnancies.

Most people say they value volunteering because it’s “the right thing to do,” among other altruistic reasons. But the strongest drivers of successful volunteers are actually more self-focused. There are five main reasons people volunteer:

Understanding: the desire to learn new things and acquire knowledge.

Esteem enhancement: feeling better about yourself and finding greater stability in life.

Personal development: acquiring new skills, testing your capabilities, and stretching yourself.

Sense of community: making the world, or your piece of it, a better place.

Humanitarian values: serving and helping others, often with a strong religious component.

People often get into volunteer work because a friend asks them, and that can be a fine entry point. But people should also do some work to make sure the organization is a good fit for their interests and that the work they would be doing is also a good fit. Be sure to ask “what’s the optimal match for me?”

Further, if there is a jumble of factors motivating people to consider volunteering, they might want to reconsider. When people have multiple motivations, it is harder for them to be satisfied. Experts say it is easier to derive happiness when your goals are simpler.

Concern for others and concern for yourself can complement one another. Find a way to do good for others at the same time as you do good for yourself. Have you made volunteering a part of your social life? Let us know how in the comments below!

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Posted in Family Volunteering, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 8 Comments »

Why “Slacktivists” Are More Active Than You Think [Infographic]

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

This awesome infographic originally appeared on Mashable.

What do you think about slacktivism, is it an effective tool or not?

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3 Ways to Use Your March Madness Bounty for Good!

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Now that March Madness is over and the national championship has been decided, it’s time to celebrate all of the amazing things that are happening in April!

We at HandsOn Network are challenging you to give your March Madness bracket bounty to charities
April is National Volunteer Month, which means it’s a great time to honor the amazing service that volunteers have done in your community. One way to celebrate the awesomeness of volunteers is by sharing their story via  the Points of Light Facebook tab! Simply, go to , click on the National Volunteer Week tab (located below our cover photo), complete the form. This should take up too much time of your day, but hey we’re sure that volunteer is well worth your time! that promote awesome causes, recognize volunteers during National Volunteer Week, share a story to win an Alaskan cruise, and just be awesome!

  1. Give your March Madness bracket bounty to a great cause! Every parent knows that a hungry child is a disadvantaged child. He can’t grow, develop and learn like other kids. She has trouble focusing and getting along. They complain often of headaches, stomachaches and other ailments. They fall behind in virtually every way. It doesn’t have to be this way. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® strategy provides that access to families all across the nation, so that every child, regardless of circumstances, can get the healthy food they need to thrive. Help the fight against child hunger by donating to Share Our Strength.
  2. Host a bake sale! In addition to donating money to Share Our Strength’s mission to end child hunger, you can also participate in the Great American Bake Sale and help a youth host a bake sale or host your own! The Great American Bake Sale happens all across the country, all year long. Awesome youth and caring adults sign up to hold bake sales and send their profits to Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength uses that money to end childhood hunger. You can schedule your bake sale whenever you want, but the National Challenge is April 20-22. It would be sweet if your bake sale won! The first 300 bake sale hosts to submit $275 or more from bake sales held on National Challenge Weekend will receive a Jay at Play’s Little Miss Muffin Pop N Flip™ toy!

Whether you’re donating your money to an awesome organization or celebrating volunteers, we are grateful for all of the philanthropic contributions and hope that you have fun celebrating all of the great generous service of those around you!

 

 

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Posted in Economy, Family Volunteering, Fundraising & Development, Kids, Volunteerism | No Comments »

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